Erection device for gyro verticals



Aug. 7, 1945. F. CARTER l 2,380,941

ERECTION DEVICE FOR GYRO VERTICALS Filed Dec. 7, 1940 3 sheets-sheetl INVENTOR ESL 1E ITO/:RTE

WTORNEY f Aug. 7, 1945.

l.. F. CARTER' 2,380,941

ERECTION DEVICE FOR GYRO VERTICALS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed D ec. '7, 1940 IWW um lll l INV TOR 55H5 .CARTER ATTRNEY,

mw@ l Aug. 7, 1945.

l.. F. CARTER 2,380,941

EECTION DEVICE FOR GYRO VERTICALS Filed Deo. 7, 1940' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 -'lg .EL

l INVENTOR l' ESL/Ef.- CARTER lcasing 3 of the gyrcscope,

Patentedl Aug. 7, 1945 lERECTION DEVICE FOB GYM VERTICALE Leslie F. Carter, Leonia. NJ.. assignor to Sperry Brooklyn,

Gyroloo P corporation of New Company, Y

u N. Y., a

Application December 1940, Serial No. 368.018

iz claim. (ci. 'ze-s) 'i'his invention relates to erection devices for gyro-verticals or gyroscopic artificial horizons wherein the source of power is controlled by a gravitationalLv responsive element to maintain the gyroscope erect with a minimum of oscillation. More particularly. this invention constitutes an improvement on 'the invention described and claimed in my prior Patent No. 2,314,343, dated March 23, 1943,` for Erecting device for gyro verticale.

Cine of the objects of the present invention is to render the gyroscope of my prior invention more stable in its vertical position so that small amplitude hunting around the vertical is avoided.-

' Another object of my invention is to prevent inclination of the gyrosoope during turning of the craft.

' from the fonowmg description.

vReferring to the drawings showing several forms my invention may assume..

Fig. 1 is a plan view..parts being in section. of one of my improved gyro-verticals.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, also partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the gyro and its casing.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of a modified form of erection device adapted to be used in connection with a gyroscope of the type shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, in lieu of the erection device there shown. l 1

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 'l is a detail of the turn controlled valve shown in Figs. l and 2. v

Fig. 8 is a transverse section looking upwardly taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring rst to'Figs. 1, 2 and 3. there is vtherein shown a gym-vertical or artificialhorison4 for aircraft enclosed within a casina i. from which air may be continuously exhausted through outlet 2., Within said casing is universally mounted the rotor bearing frame or which is shown as pivoted on minor transverse trunnions 4 and 3 within the glmbal'ring 3, which in turn is plv,- oted on fore and aft maior trunnions 1 and 3 within the casing I. The rotor properl is journaled within theA casing 3 on normally vertical pivots I3 and Il'. the rotor being preferably spunusualmannerfromairjets Il withinthe in the tinues tobeoxerted iets'. il.

case.- Air at atmospheric pressure is shown as ysupplied to said iets from a screened opening l2 channel il in the gimbal ring, thence through passages I3 in thehollow trunnion 4. thence through passages I1 and l1' tol the aforesaid The used air a shown as discharged downwardly through channels Il inthe bottom of the casing 3. whence it passes downwardly through hollow stem I3 and a goodly part'passes out through cross bores 23. Said stem is shown as secured in the central aperture of a spherical button 2i formed on the'bottom of the syro easing, and it supports at itslower end a similar spherical button 22. Between said buttons is loosely mounted a freely rotatable spool or member 23 formed with upwardly and downwardly spherical cavities" 24 and 24' which conform to but are slightly spaced from the aforesaid buttons. 'Ihe used air from the rotor passes upwardly and downwardly from the annularspace Il comunicating with the es 23 and thence the air flows voutwardly-.betvrreen the comple'- mentary buttons and cups to form air bearings for the member 23, supporting it for freedom about the vertical Member 23 is preferably unbalanced about said axis as by securing there- .to an eccentricmass I3 which exerts a torque on the gyroscope about a horizontal axis normal to the horizontal radius connecting said mass and the' member I3 is rotated so that the mass 23 is on the low side ofthe gyroscope, as explained in my aforesaid prior application. The result is that there is always exertedx an unbalanced torque o n the gyrcscope. the position of which is in a'direction to erect the gyroscope by the shortest path but a slight conical precession of the gyroscope may result of small and almost inconsequential magnitude, because this torque conin one form ot my invention even though the gyroscope be level.

In my aforesaid prior application and in the form of the present invention shown in Fiss. 4

to 6, these two functions of the present invention are eiiected by separate air jets 28' and 21' directed at right angles to cach other. In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 8, however, I accomplish both functions by a single jet 28 (see Fig. 8) placed'at an angle to the position of the eccentric mass 28. An analysis oi' the forces involved will show that the same result is secured as with two jets since the torque exertedby the jet 28 may be resolved into a component in the vertical plane through the mass 28 and the verti cal center line of the gyroscope and a second component at right angles thereto, so that the rst named component balances the gravitational pull on the mass 28 when the gyro is vertical and the second named component applies the erecting torque. As with the two jets, as soon as the gyro becomes inclined, the gravitational pull predominates and swings the entire spool 23 so that the-mass 28 remains at the low side of the gyroscope.

Such devices, however, being also eifected by centrifugal force, give rise to errors during turns. In order to avoid such errors, I propose a novel means for rendering the erecting torque ineilective during turns, i. e., by spinning the entire member 23I on its air bearings whenever turning occurs. By this means the slight unbalanced torque exerted by the jet 28 is distributed, so

Vthat there 4is no continuously eil'ective torque about any axis. For this purpose I have .shown Jets". to spin the erection device and render the same temporarily inoperative.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the above mentioned purpose is accompushed and, in addition, the erecting action ot the iet or jets is rendered ineilective when the syrosoope is vertical thereby reducing the above described hunting action or slight conical precession otherwise caused thereby. In this form, the rotatable member or sleeve 23' is shown as supported on ordinary anti-friction bearings 48 and 48' on the stem ll projecting downwardly from the gyro case 8'. The sleeve is again providedatitstopwithteethsoastoberotatedincaseofturns. Inthisformthesleeve is shown as provided with a balancing jet 28', unbalanced mass 28 or the equivalent, and a separate processing jet 21' normal to the-jet 28'. In this case, also, I have shown a pendulous shutter Il pivoted at 8| on the sleeve above the port 2l', so that when the gyroscope is vertical,

' the shutter Il overlies the port 21' and-spoils the top of the member 23 provided with inclined blades 29 against which equal jets of air from symmetrically placed ports Il in the bottom o! the case may be directed. No reactive torquejs thereby exerted on the gyro-casing 2 about any horizontal axis, Said ports are shown as connected to a separate source of air supply from the previously described Jets so that the jets from said ports may be rendered eilective during turns and ineil'ective during ordinary operation. -For this purpose I have shown a. `separate pipe 3l (Fig. ll for leading air in through a valve I2 and thence in through a separate axial channel 3l in trunnion 8, connected with a pipe Il leading into an axial channel 3l in trunnion 4. Thence the air is led downwardly through pipe 38 into an annular channel 31 in the' bottom of the gyro case, in which the above described ports Il are placed.

'I'he valve 32 is shown as in the form of a semicircular cut-oil plate (see Fig. 7) secured to a stub shaft 48 and normally closing both outlet ports 53 and N which connect with the channel 55 connected in turn with the central bore 33 of trunnion 8. When, however, the plate-is rotated through a substantial angle in either direction one of the ports 8l or 82 will be uncovered, thus admitting air to the Jets Il.

The valve- 32 may be controlled by any suitable means for closing the same during turns. Preferably such means is automatic and comprises a rate of turn or turn responsive syroscope- 88, shown as comprising. a rotor ll -journaled on horizontal trunnions Il in rotor bearing frame 4|, which in turn is iournaled for procession about horizontal trunnions I2 in casing l, the gyroscope being normally centralized by springs 43. 'I'he gyroscope is shown as having a loose pin and slot connection 48 and Il' with the disc l5 secured to the stem or shaft l of the aforesaid valve 32. As shown'in-Fig. 7, the valve isso arranged as to be opened on precession of the gyroscope in eitherdirection froml the central position. thereby admitting air to the spinning the air reaction therefrom so that little or no torque is exerted on the gyroscope from this port. In case, however,- the gyr'oscope becomes inclined, as shown in Eig. 5, the pendulum swings to one side and the port is opened so as to exert the desired air reaction and erective torque on the gyroscope.

As many changes could-be made in the above construction and many apparently widely diirerent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

. Having' described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: A 1.` In 'a gyro vertical for moving craft, includy ing a rotor mounted for freedom about normally perpendicular horizontal axes and a. normally vertical axis anda rotor bearing frame, an unbalanced mass rotatably mounted on said frame about said vertical axis, whereby the mass remains on the low side of the frame, means rotatable with said mass for exerting an erecting torque about a vhorizontal axis of said frame substantially normal to the horizontal axis about which said mass acts and means responsive to turn of the craft for spinning said mass and torque means at suiilcient speed to temporarily eliminate the enect of said torque on said gyro vertical.

42. A gyro vertical as claimed inA claim 1, having a gravitationally responsive means mounted on said mass and operating to render said torque means ineirective except on relative inclination perpendicular horizontal axes and a normally 4vertical axis, an unbalanced mass rotatably mounted on said `gyro vertical on an axis in line with said vertical axis. and a single torque applying device for exerting a continuous torque about a horizontal axis of the gyro vertical at a. single point and in a direction to normallyboth balance the Agravitational pull on said unbalanced mass and to exert an erecting torque on the gyro vertical at an angle to said`pull.

4. A gyro vertical as claimed in claim 3 having means responsive to turn of the crafty for spinning said mass and torque means during turns.

5 In a gyro vertical for rnovlng craft, Aincluding a rotor mounted for freedom about normally perpendicular horizontal axes and a normally mounted on said gyro vertical on an axis in line with said vertical axis, and a single air jet rotatable with said mass and directed at an angle to the vertical plane containing said mass and vertical axis, said jet being so constructed and arranged as to both balance the normal gravitational .pull on said mass and to exert an erecting torque on the gyro vertical at an angle to said pull.

6. An erection device for neutrally mounted gyro verticals comprising an unbalanced mass rotatably mounted about a vertical axis on the rotor casing of said gyro vertical, an air jet on said mass so located and directed that its reaction on the gyro vertical balances the gravitational torque on the gyro vertical from said unbalanced portion of said mass, but leaving said mass subject to gravity upon inclination of the gyro vertical, a second air iet on said mass so located and directed that its mean reaction on the Vgyro vertical during inclination is such as to erect the same, and a pendulous baille rendering said last named jet ineffective except upon relative inclinationof the gyro vertical and baffle.

"7. A gyro vertical as claimed in claim 9, in which both the gyro rotor and said mass are spun by air jets, an air channel lthrough the gyro axes for leading air to the rotor jets, a separate channel through the gyro axes for leading air to the said mass spinningV jets, and a valve in the air supply for the latter jets adapted to be opened only on turning of the craft.

8. A gyro vertical as claimed in claim 9, in

which both the gyro rotor and said mass are spun by air jets, an air channel through the gyro axes for leading air to the rotor jets, a separate channel through the gyro axes for leading air to the said mass spinning jets, a valve in the air supply lfor the latter jets, and a rate of turn gyroscope connected to said valve to open said valve on precession in either direction.

9. A gyro vertical for moving craft mounted for freedom about mutually perpendicular normally horizontal axes and a normally vertical axis and including a rotor bearing frame, a rotatable mass mounted on the frame about the vertical axis thereof, said mass having an un balanced portion adapted to move to the lower side of the gyro vertical upon inclination of its vertical axis, means. for exerting an erecting torque on said frame, and counterbalancing the torque caused by the weight of the unbalanced portion of said mass, and means for rapidly spinning said rotatable mass to render the torque exerting means ineffective only during turning movements of the craft.

10. In a gyro vertical for moving craft mounted for freedom about mutually perpendicular normally horizontal axes and a normally vertical axis and including a rotor bearing frame, a rotatable mass mounted on the frame about the vertical axis thereof, said mass. having an unbalanced portion adapted to move to the lower side of said frame upon inclination of its vertical axis, air jet means carried by said mass for both exerting an erecting torque on the gyro vertical and counterbalancing the torque caused by the weight of the unbalanced portion of said mass, and means for spinning said rotatable mass suiciently rapidly to render the air jet torque exerting means thereon ineective only during turning movements of the craft.

11. An erection device for neutrally mounted gyro verticals comprising an unbalanced mass rotatably mounted on said gyro vertical on a normally vertical axis, an air jet on said mass so located and directed that its reaction on the gyro vertical balances the reaction on the gyro vertical from said unbalanced portion of said mass, but leaving said mass subject to gravity upon inclination of the gyro vertical, a second air jet on said mass so located and directed that its mean reaction on the gyro vertical during inclination is such as to erect the same, and a pendulous baiiie pivoted adjacent said second jet to render the same ineffective when both said gyro vertical and baille are vertical.

12. In combination, a gyro vertical having a gyro rotor bearing frame mounted for freedom about mutually perpendicular normally horizontal axes, a gyro rotor in said frame mounted to spin about a normally vertical axis, a rotatable member mounted on said frame situated in coaxial relation to the spin axis of the gyro rotor and including an unbalancing mass thereon, air jet directing means situated in said member by which the gravitational reaction on said frame caused by the unbalanced mass is normally balanced and a reactive erecting force is exerted about a horizontal axis of the frame, which is eil'ective when the frame is inclined from a normal position, to restore the spin axis of the gyro rotor to a normal position, and a gravitationally responsive shutter rendering said last named jet ineiective except upon inclination of the gyro vertical.

, LESLIE F. CARTER. 

